Artist Jeff Henriquez Reacts to the Vandalization of His Prodigy Mural

If you have been to Yankee Stadium recently, you have most likely observed the larger sized than lifestyle mural of former shortstop Derek Jeter, painted by road artist Jeff Henriquez. Although many of Henriquez’s most recognizable functions now adorn the city of New York, the road artist’s twenty five-12 months tenure commenced back again through his significant college days in Lynn, Massachusetts.

The now New York-based artist’s portfolio is extensively populated with portrait-centric murals, even though his inspiration and aesthetic interests swerve into various instructions. “Chor Boogie is a person of my preferred artists right now. The piece he did for The Bushwick Collective is a person of my favorites,” shares Henriquez. The outside road gallery in Brooklyn shows an internationally curated range of artists, such as Henriquez’s personal do the job. Nonetheless, whilst artwork has always resonated with the Massachusetts native, his really like for hip hop is just as potent.

More than two many years later on, Henriquez was getting techniques in direction of doing the job on a collaboration piece with Lazare depicting the Queensborough Bridge when news broke of Prodigy’s passing. The untimely dying impressed Henriquez and Lazare to shift the way of the mural, deciding upon to in its place paint a portrait of the late Prodigy.

It is understandable then that Henriquez was overcome with huge sadness when he learned the mural had been vandalized. “It’s crucial for me to uphold regard and an artistic typical when producing murals, an unwritten rule most road artists abide by,” explained Henriquez. “I needed to manage the portrait and restore it just as fast as it was tarnished. Not only in the name of my do the job, but as a reaction to all those liable in the 1st put,” he ongoing.

Not prolonged following the do the job was repaired, an additional round of vandalism struck. “The 2nd vandalism didn’t arrive as a shock. I understood it would take place yet again since the 1st act was specially qualified,” explained Henriquez. As for the culprits driving the defamation, their id continues to be unidentified, but the beef seemingly lies with Prodigy and not the artwork itself.

In reaction to the vandalism, Henriquez gained thousands of messages and responses from fans and people today shut to Prodigy alike in assistance of the piece. Exhibiting the electrical power of artwork, the mural has turn out to be not only about the subject matter itself but has transcended to mirror the integrity of the neighborhood that formed the rapper.

Next the 1st incident, waves of people today confirmed their assistance by standing in entrance of the mural as Henriquez and Lazare worked into the eaerly morning on its restoration. Between the crowd of onlookers was producer DJ Hotday shining his car’s significant beams for lights.

“That’s hood really like. It is a emotion of positivity that will continue to be with me for the relaxation of my lifestyle,”concludes Henriquez.